Newbie Question: What If One Side Of A Coin Is More Worn Than The Other?

The coin would receive a details grade. The details letter range should be determined by the weaker side, or the TPG might throw up their arms and send it back in a body bag.

In general, old SPINK catalogs address this issue directly, and advise grading both sides, which is why British-sold coins are sometimes found with split grades. Otherwise, if the discrepancy isn't too large, it is advised to go by the slightly weaker side.

ANACS used to do split grading too, way back when they were first founded. I think it was PCGS entering the TPG market int he 1980s with a single grade or "net grading" that saw ANACS stop that practice.

Yes, it is possible for a coin that is worn more on one side than the other to be legitimately graded (ie. not returned with a details grade). The convention is that the obverse of a coin contributes 80% of the net grade. So if a coin is low VF on the obverse and low EF on the reverse, it will net-grade in the EF or perhaps high VF range; if an otherwise identical coin is low VF on the obverse and low EF on the reverse, that coin will end up with a low VF grade.

You mean like this?

@tdziemia - some of the old boys certainly do :)

YIKES those photos are almost what I was thinking! Actually... WORSE!

I wasn't sure about if one side was more important than the other, but knowing MOST people look at he front BUT knowing there are "two sides to every coin" I wasn't sure.

Obviously, any collectible with imperfection to one area has far less value, BUT knowing that there are some very rare coins out there I was curious just how much people can overlook.

I'm going to venture a guess it was glued onto a surface at some point. It may have been sanded beforehand to create a better bond. You'd want to check the weight (if you bought it) to see how much silver is missing.

WOW you are generous!